Canon EOS M5 Review | 108 Data compared

The Canon EOS M5 is an enthusiast-focused 24.2MP APS-C mirrorless camera featuring highly accurate Dual Pixel autofocus, excellent physical controls, and a responsive touchscreen interface. DPReview notes the camera offers great usability and is highly compatible with adapted EF-S lenses. However, the M5 lacks 4K video capability, suffers from a limited burst buffer, and shows reduced dynamic range compared to rivals, say DPReview. Additionally, it faces limitations in battery life and native lens selection, making it less competitive against newer options.

The Canon EOS M5, reviewed by PCMag, is positioned as an enthusiast-friendly mirrorless camera offering DSLR-level performance, including a 24-megapixel sensor, fast 9fps burst shooting, and effective Dual Pixel CMOS AF. The camera is noted for its ergonomic design, featuring a centered EVF, a highly responsive 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen, and robust physical controls, making it a capable, compact option for, among others, users adapting Canon EF/EF-S lenses. However, the M5 faces limitations, including the notable absence of 4K video recording, a relatively small EVF, and an undersized, below-average battery life of roughly 295 shots per charge. Further drawbacks highlighted include narrow dynamic range, aggressive noise reduction at high ISOs, a lack of built-in flash, and a limited native lens ecosystem.

Canon EOS M5 Review Summary The Canon EOS M5 marks a significant upgrade in Canon’s mirrorless lineup, offering enthusiasts a compact, DSLR-style body equipped with a 24-megapixel sensor and a fast DIGIC 7 processor. A major highlight of this model is the integration of a sharp, built-in 2.36M-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) and a large 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen display, vastly improving usability over its predecessors. Performance is a key strength; the camera features the Dual Pixel CMOS AF system for swift, reliable autofocusing and subject tracking. Additionally, it boasts impressive continuous shooting speeds of up to 9.2 fps for JPEGs (dropping to 7 fps with continuous autofocus) and fast single-shot autofocus speeds. Despite these strengths, the EOS M5 falls short in several areas compared to its APS-C rivals. Most notably, it entirely lacks 4K video recording, capping its capabilities at 1080p at 60 fps, and lacks advanced videography features like a headphone jack. Image quality, while good overall with excellent hue accuracy, suffers from slightly soft default JPEG sharpening and a dynamic range that still lags behind the competition. Furthermore, its...

The Shutterbug review highlights the Canon EOS M5 as a compact, high-performance camera offering professional handling, a 120Hz OLED EVF, and a crisp swivel touchscreen. It excels in still photography, delivering excellent noise performance and very good dynamic range (up to 11.2 f-stops) at lower ISO settings. However, the camera is limited by a lack of 4K video, offering only standard 1080p capabilities, and suffers from a sharp decline in dynamic range at high ISO levels. At ISO 12,800 and 25,600, intense noise reduction creates an "impressionist filter" effect that significantly compromises image detail. Shutterbug.com

The Canon EOS M5 delivers reliable exposures, excellent color reproduction, and rapid, accurate autofocus at 9fps. Its compact design features a secure handgrip and solid noise handling, while the 18-150mm kit lens offers strong macro capabilities at longer focal lengths. However, default images can appear slightly soft, and the 18-150mm lens shows noticeable barrel distortion at 18mm, with the camera lacking in-camera correction. Other cons include soft telephoto performance, a lack of weather-sealing, and a high price point relative to competitors.

The Canon EOS M5 is a compact 24.2-megapixel APS-C mirrorless camera shaped like a miniature SLR that bridges the gap between portability and standard DSLR performance. Its standout features include the advanced Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus system (borrowed from the EOS 80D) which provides reliable phase-detection across 80% of the frame, a Digic 7 image processor, and a built-in 2.36-million-dot electronic viewfinder. Designed for enthusiast photographers, the camera handles remarkably well for its size by integrating an effective control layout with multiple customisable dials and an intuitive touchscreen focus system. It supports continuous shooting up to 9fps (or 7fps with continuous autofocus) and offers 5-axis digital stabilization for smooth Full HD video recording up to 60fps, though it notably lacks 4K capabilities. On the downside, the review highlights that the EOS M5 suffers from occasional exposure inconsistencies, as its Evaluative metering system can under-expose high-contrast or very bright subjects. Lab testing revealed that its dynamic range and signal-to-noise ratios are merely adequate and fall slightly behind rivals like the Sony A6300 or Panasonic GX8. Furthermore, the camera is expensive compared...

In his review, Thom Hogan highlights the ⁠Canon EOS M5 as a major turning point for Canon’s mirrorless lineup, describing it as a well-designed, mini-DSLR that effectively shrinks the capabilities of a Rebel DSLR into a highly compact body. The camera's major advantages include its excellent 24-megapixel dual-pixel APS-C sensor, which delivers predictable, repeatable image quality and robust subject tracking that is competitive with top market rivals. Hogan praises its ergonomics, particularly the deep handgrip, a tactile EVF design that stays out of the way, and a highly intuitive Touch & Drag AF feature that lets photographers slide their thumb across the rear touchscreen to move focus points while keeping their eye on the viewfinder. The abundance of dedicated physical control dials—such as exposure compensation and dual command dials—further enhances its appeal to seasoned shooters. However, the review points out several distinct weaknesses that hold the camera back from perfection. A primary limitation is the lack of native EF-M lenses, forcing users to rely on an expensive adapter to access a broader library of high-performance glass. Performance bottlenecks are also...

The Canon EOS M5 is a mirrorless camera featuring a 24.2-MP APS-C CMOS sensor, a DIGIC 7 image processor, and Dual Pixel AF, achieving an overall DXOMARK sensor score of 77 points. It provides high-utility features including a built-in 2.36M-dot OLED electronic viewfinder, dual-command control dials, up to 9 fps continuous shooting, and 5-axis digital image stabilization during video capture. The sensor delivers strong raw performance at lower sensitivities, maintaining a very good dynamic range of 12.5 EV and an excellent color depth of 23.4 bits at base ISO. This dynamic range remains at a strong 10EV or higher up to ISO 1600, giving photographers malleable files for post-production shadow recovery.

However, the reviewer points out several notable drawbacks, particularly the lack of a robust native EF-M lens ecosystem, forcing users to rely on the included EF-M lens adapter kit to access faster glass. Performance limitations include a noticeably long viewfinder blackout time during bursts and the complete omission of 4K video recording, capping its capabilities at 1080p at 60 fps. The plastic material can also give the camera a slightly cheap feel in areas like the power switch, and the ultra-compact size may feel too cramped for photographers with very large hands. Ultimately, while the review concludes that the EOS M5 is a solid, capable tool for street photography and an excellent entry point for existing Canon DSLR users, it lacks the overall refinement and low-light ISO performance of established mirrorless competitors like Fujifilm.

The Canon EOS M5 represents a major milestone for Canon's mirrorless lineup, serving as the first model in the M series to feature a built-in electronic viewfinder and Dual Pixel autofocus. Built like a scaled-down SLR, it delivers high-resolution images via its 24-megapixel APS-C sensor, which shares identical DNA and excellent noise reduction with the Canon 80D. The camera excels in subject tracking and ergonomics, packing a generous array of manual physical dials alongside a highly customizable touchscreen that prevents accidental nasal contact while framing shots. Core Strengths & Limitations Pro: High-quality 24MP image resolution matching traditional DSLRs. Pro: Smooth, precise Dual Pixel autofocus that is perfect for tracking video subjects. Pro: Highly tactile interface featuring an abundance of physical control buttons. Pro: Exceptionally light and compact footprint ideal for travel. Pro: Includes a standard EF adapter to utilize massive existing Canon DSLR lens line-ups. Con: Total lack of 4K video recording capabilities. Con: No built-in sensor-shifting image stabilization for still photography. Con: Limited natively developed EF-M mount lens selection available on the market. Con: Physical grip is a bit...

The Canon EOS M5 is a compact mirrorless camera priced around $979 that shares many specifications with the EOS 80D, positioning it as a mid-range option rather than an entry-level device. On the positive side, the camera excels at photography, producing highly detailed, crisp images with impressive color and dynamic range. It is highly portable, easy to control, features manual audio control, focus peaking, and utilizes a very reliable Dual Pixel CMOS continuous autofocus system that functions exceptionally well for tracking faces and objects. Furthermore, it features an adaptable lens mount that can accept standard EF and EF-S lenses via a dedicated adapter. Conversely, the camera suffers from significant limitations, particularly regarding video production. It lacks a 4K video mode, capping its resolution at 1080p at up to 60 frames per second with a video quality that looks blurry and lacks detail. While it features 5-axis image stabilization, using the "enable" or "enhanced" digital modes crops the frame and introduces a wobbly, low-resolution appearance. Low-light performance is mediocre, as settings above ISO 3200 introduce heavy image noise. Finally, filmmakers will...

I am basing this summary on the assumption that you want a balanced, highly technical overview of how this camera performs for landscape and general enthusiast photography, which is the reviewer's primary focus. To help me tailor any further camera insights, could you tell me: What type of photography do you plan to use this camera for? Are you looking to buy a used M5, or are you comparing it to a newer mirrorless system? Do you already own Canon EF or EF-M lenses, or are you starting from scratch?

The Canon EOS M5 is an enthusiast-focused mirrorless camera that integrates a 24-megapixel APS-C sensor paired with a DIGIC 7 processor. It is the first in the EOS M lineup to feature a built-in 2.36 million-dot OLED electronic viewfinder and Dual Pixel CMOS AF, which provides phase-detect autofocus across 80% of the sensor for smooth subject tracking. Designed for physical control, the body features dual control dials, a dedicated exposure compensation dial, and a 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen that flips downwards 180 degrees for handheld framing. Performance-wise, it shoots up to 7fps with continuous autofocus, maintains a low-power Bluetooth connection with smartphones for easy Wi-Fi pairing, and adapts beautifully to Canon's extensive EF lens catalog using an adapter. The camera's main strengths lie in its highly accurate Dual Pixel autofocus system for smooth video focus pulling, its physical enthusiast-friendly ergonomics, and its seamless compatibility with adapted EF lenses. However, it suffers from several distinct drawbacks, most notably the lack of 4K video recording capability, missing weather-proofing, and the absence of physical sensor-shift image stabilization—opting instead for a 5-axis electronic stabilization system....

The Canon EOS M5 is identified by Photo Review Australia as a significant step forward for the brand's mirrorless lineup, featuring an exceptional, sharp electronic viewfinder (EVF) and a comfortable, secure grip, blending a DSLR-like feel with a portable form factor. It delivers fast performance with 9 fps shooting and capable Full HD video, although it is designed for a two-handed, rather than quick single-handed, operation. However, the review notes the camera's competitive edge is hindered by a restrictive buffer memory that limits sustained shooting, particularly in raw, and a lens system that still trails competitors in overall versatility. While it represents a major improvement for Canon's mirrorless system, the overall ecosystem lags behind alternatives from Fujifilm, Sony, and others, according to the analysis.